Santa Clara University Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries January 2014 - National Human Trafficking Awareness Month
Connections
by Terry Jelley
January 2014
As a GPPM graduate and member of the Catholic Network to End Human Trafficking of the Diocese of San Jose, I was both excited and proud of the level of involvement of SCU faculty and students in this month's Human Trafficking Awareness activities. January 23rd, in particular, stands out as a day in which SCU demonstrated its level of commitment to this critical cause. Human Trafficking is a form of modern day slavery. Bishop McGrath has stated, “Human Trafficking is a crime that affects approximately 27 million people globally and locally.” An estimated 17,500 people are believed to be trafficking into the US. each year, and 100,000 children who are U.S. citizens are trafficked within the U.S. In Santa Clara County human trafficking involves, in large part, forced labor. In order to emphasize this point, two SCU law professors led a panel discussion at the January 23rd symposium on Forced Labor Human Trafficking in Santa Clara County and the South Bay. The event was hosted by the South Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking, County of Santa Clara Office of Women’s Policy, and the Silicon Valley YWCA. Local political leaders including Cindy Chavez, District 2 Board of Supervisors, U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, and District Attorney Jeff Rosen were on hand to open the event. Following testimony by human trafficking survivor, Sarah Balabagan Sereno, Lynette M. Parker led the panel discussion with an overview of forced labor human trafficking. Parker is Associate Clinical Professor of Law and Clinical Faulty member of the Katherine and George Alexander Community Law Center, a civil clinical program of Santa Clara University School of Law. Parker co-authored a manual entitled "Representing Survivors of Human Trafficking; A Promising Practices Handbook." The next panelist, Ruth Silver Taube, an Adjunct Professor of Law at SCU School of Law, gave a presentation on the Civil Causes of Action. Silver Taube is supervising Attorney of the Workers' Rights Clinic at the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center, Senior Staff Attorney at Legal Aid Society. and a frequent panelist and trainer on civil claims in forced labor human trafficking cases. That evening at the MCC Shapell Lounge, The Freedom Project: Students Against Human Trafficking Club held a screening of Hark, a short film about Human Trafficking by Dr. Jonathan Fung, a film professor in the Communcations Department at SCU. A Q&A session followed the film. Guests included Jonathan Fung, and Religious Studies Professor, Dr. Teresia Hinga. What can you do to help? For tips or information, call the National Huan Trafficking Hoteline (1-888-3636-888) In addition, Pope Francis has asked that February 8th, feast of St. Josephine Bakhita, be a day of prayer for victims of human trafficking.